The Brocketts of Gateshead

North East Broket records from mid 18th to 19th C are dominated by two families: one at Headlam Hall in the Tees valley and this one in Gateshead on the Tyne. Singled out here are the first Gateshead Brockett, John, and 3 of his sons:

John Brockett of Gateshead Gent 1764-1827

John Brockett was the youngest son of Henry and Ann of Lanchester, bap there 26 Nov 1764. “Of Witton Gilbert, afterwards of Gateshead”.1 Witton Gilbert is a small village c 4 m NW of Durham City. 3 of the 4 entries in the Hudleston Papers in Durham University2 mention John: one a marriage bond in which John, bachelor, was styled ‘Gent’, another a record that he was for many years Clerk to the Court of Requests in Newcastle.3 John was sole executor of brother William’s Will in 1821.

The mural monument in the Chancel of St Mary’s Gateshead, where John and wife Frances were buried, had a coat of arms ‘Brockett impaling Trotter’. The church dominated Gateshead river front,4 but was badly damaged by fire in 1855 and is no longer used as a church; the mural monument no longer exists. Their sons also used the coat of arms—it was printed in the Biographical Sketch of John Trotter Brockett Esquire5 and engraved on the ‘elegant and massive silver tureen and salver, value £130, presented to Mr Alderman [William Henry] Brockett of Gateshead’ in 1846 by merchants and shipowners of Newcastle.6 The cross in the first and fourth quarters is scalloped and different from the cross flory granted to members of the Yorkshire and Hertfordshire Brockett family. The College of Arms has no record of a grant of arms to members of this family.

Margaret. Sole executrix of her mother’s Will in 1833. Living in the same building in King James St, Gateshead, as brother William Henry in 1841, Spinster, aged 45, therefore b c 1796. Probably died 1841 Gateshead11 possibly 1852 Newcastle.12

George. A mural monument in St Mary’s Gateshead recorded his death ‘in Havana 7 May 1818 from a malignant fever’ aged 23 years—therefore b c 1795. Administration of George Brockett of Gateshead, Master Mariner, Bachelor, formerly of Gateshead in the county of Durham, but late belonging to the merchant ship Ariadne at Havannah, 9 Sep 1818.13

Mary bap 30 June 1799 Witton Gilbert. According to Smith14 she married … BENNETT, Surgeon of Gateshead, bore him two sons in 1838 and 1839 and died 5 Apr 1846.

John Trotter Brockett of Newcastle 1764-1827

Eldest son of John Gent and Frances TROTTER, John Trotter became a Lawyer, Antiquary, Numismatist and Author of the Glossary of North Country Words in 1825. Biographical details about him can be found in various sources.15 Called ‘Esq’ in the Biographical Sketch published Newcastle 1843, where his signature is reproduced below an engraving of him. Born 21 Sep 1788 Witton Gilbert,16 died 12 Oct 1842 Albion Place, Newcastle. Married 1814 Durham Isabella BELL, alive 1863-4.17Children:

William Edward. Ages given in censuses would make his birth c 1824, which is too late for his marriage in 1840. Possibly travelled to Sydney Australia before 1836. Married 11 June 1840 Chester-le-Street Maria Margaret SHIELD.20 Nov 1842 admitted Attorney of Queens Bench, Westminster and Solicitor in Chancery. Farmed and kept horses at Whickham—about 2 m SW of Gateshead.Census records for William and family: Read More

Bankruptcy proceedings were filed against him 19 Nov 1855. “William Edward Brockett, the Sol[icito]r, is a bankrupt and horse racing is the cause—report states he has lost a great many of his clients money”.21 He absconded and was declared an outlaw soon after. No further record of him has been found. Children:

Edward Spencer b 1847 Gateshead, d there 1848.

Frederick William Spencer b 1858 Gateshead. Not found in any other records.

William Henry Brockett of Gateshead 1804-1867

Third son of John Gent and Frances TROTTER, William Henry Brockett was a businessman and Mayor of Gateshead23 in the NE of England 1839-40. Among other public activities he was a JP, Coroner for Newcastle and Honorary Secretary of Newcastle and Gateshead Shipowners’ Society. Growing up beside the river Tyne, his children spread across the world, such that now there are no male-line descendants living in the UK. In 1837 William Henry founded Gateshead’s first newspaperThe Gateshead Observer and owned it till his death in 15 Jan 1867, aged 62.24 In 2011 William Henry was given the accolade of a Blue Commemorative Plaque from the City of Gateshead.25

William was an amateur genealogist and in 1860 he privately printed a ‘Pedigree of BROCKETT of Steton and Brockett Hall, co. York; of Brockett Hall, Herts; and of Spain’s Hall, co. Essex‘. It took careful typesetting and proof-reading—and research and is of inestimable value.

Many volumes of papers relating to William Henry are preserved in the ‘Brockett collection’ in Gateshead Library, including a series of 10 volumes—some in more than one part—called the Brockett Papers: principally a collection of newspaper cuttings, tracts, letters etc concerning facts, figures and stories about Gateshead in the mid 19th C. Some, but by no means all, have a direct connection with William Henry. Since he was a prominent member of the local community, most of these are connected with his work in it, but here and there are more personal items like his genealogical interests and letters, e.g. from brother Henry in Jamaica or nephew William Edward in Newcastle. In addition to the Brockett Papers there are more volumes under his name, some of them also scrapbooks of Gateshead cuttings. One of these is the Gateshead Tracts—a volume privately published after his death containing some of his more significant essays and contributions, obituaries of himself and a number of genealogical papers about Brocketts, including the 1860 Pedigree. The Durham University Library copy is entitled Brockett’s Booklets.

William Henry married Margaret WILSON 1836 Gateshead. Census records for William Henry and Margaret: Read More

1841

At King James St, Gateshead, William Henry, aged 35, Merchant; Margaret, 24; Mary, 3; John, 2; Frances, 1 month—all born in the County—and 3 Female Servants aged 23, 38 and 25. In the same buidling but as another head of household was Margaret, aged 45, Independent, with a Female Servant aged 18.

In Tynemouth, Northumberland, as a lodger with a John Vest and his family, Margaret, aged 54, b Gateshead, Durham, Annuitant; dau Mary, 33; sons William H, 20, Publisher of Newspaper; George T, 15, Solicitor’s Clerk. Following William Henry’s death the family has gone different ways. Eldest son John had married and set up home in Gateshead. Widow Margaret was here in Tynemmouth with 3 chilren; Francis & Henry were in New Zealand; daughter Margaret at school in Ipswich; and Thomas was in London and would leave for China within the next 16 months.

According to Gateshead Tracts27 Margaret bore him 12 children, but records of only 11 have been found. Perhaps one died young. Margaret died 31 May 1889 in Leyland House, Harrogate, Yorkshire, aged 72 [ie b c 1817], of epilepsy (7 years) and senile decay, informant daughter Margaret.28 As far as the Brockett name goes, there are five male members of the younger generation who could pass it on. Children:

Mary, bap 23 Feb 1838 Gateshead,29 died 17 Sep 1909 Newcastle-upon-Tyne30 For the 1851 census she was a Scholar in Whickham, Durham, aged 13. For the 1861, 71 and 81 censuses, aged 23, 33 and 43, she was with her mother. For the 1891 census, aged 53, unm, she was in 5 Corona St, Lee, Lewisham, London—the home of cousin Thomas G WILSON, 44, unm, Hardware Agent. She has not been traced in the 1901 census. The London Probate Registry recorded probate of Mary’s will in Newcastle on 4 Nov 1909, executrix Margaret Brockett spinster, estate valued at £1407-10-3. Mary was a spinster, residing at 19 Holly Ave, Newcastle at the time, dying 17 Sep that year.

At 48 Curzon St, Gateshead, Elizabeth, 67, Head, Widow, b Fenham, Holy Island; Hubert, 26, Son, Engineering (Electrical and General), on own account, b Gateshead, Durham. [Both recorded as Brackett.] 2 children recorded born alive, 1 still living (all scored through). 4 rooms in the dwelling. Entry signed by Elizabeth, written by Hubert? Perhaps the record of 2 births was scored through by Elizabeth. Her signature suggests that Hubert may have filled the bulk of the form in, and perhaps he recorded details she wished not to be recorded.

Hubert William Henry Mathieson Brockett, born 11 Apr 1884.40 The PRO microfilms WO 363/B1717 and 171841 have some of Hubert’s papers, from which the following notes were taken: Hubert Mattison Brockett no 459696. Sapper. Of 48 Curzon St, Rectory Rd, Gateshead. Aged 31 years 290 days on 25/2/1916. Electrical Engineer. Height 5ft 11in. Weight 146 lbs. Unmarried. Mother Elizabeth was living in Gateshead in 1916 at the same address, but father John was deceased and no brothers or sisters were listed in the relevant boxes on the papers. Appendicitis 25/10/1917 in Baghdad, then cholera. Buried Baghdad 10/11/1917. Mother Elizabeth could not be traced in Mar 1922 to send her a medal. The reply from the Gateshead Police said that Elizabeth had died Sept 1921 and Hubert was the last surviving member of that family. His father’s sister Miss Brockett, c/o Mr Cook, 46 Grosvenor Place, Newcastle was the only relative whose whereabouts could be ascertained.

Frances, born 28 Apr 1841 King James St, Gateshead, bap 2 Jun 1841 Gateshead.42 Her birth and marriage are recorded in the GRO under the spelling Francis. Married 28 Oct 1862, Bryan John PROCKTER, St Mary’s Gateshead.43 On 25 Feb 1870 Frances Brockett as proprietor of the Gateshead Observer allowed a 13 year old boy to work all night. She was charged under the Factory Act, pleading guilty and was fined 40s and costs [source]. She died in Gateshead in 1889,44 aged 49. Bryan married Jane Fairlamb CHRISTAL in Sunderland in 1893.45 Jane was 32 years younger than Bryan. He died in 1906,46 aged 70.47

Francis, born 1852 Gateshead,60 bap 2 Aug 1852 Gateshead.61 He has not been traced in the 1871 or subsequent England censuses. Francis probably arrived in New Zealand 1873. He died 7 Dec 1913 Cecil Peak, near Queenstown, NZ,62 unmarried, Occupation Woolclasser.63

Henry, born 1854, 5 Catherine Terrace, Gateshead,64 bap 16 Aug 1854 Gateshead.65 Henry probably arrived in New Zealand 1871, aged 17. He has not been traced in the 1871 or subsequent England censuses. Married Mary MATHESON 1892 Ngapara, he aged c 38, she c 22. Descendants live in NZ—thanks to them for information. He died there 14 Jan 1909 aged 54, apoplexy, occupation Woolclasser,66 buried in the Mataura cemetry, NZ. Mary died 20 Mar 1956, aged 86.

George Trotter, born 1855 Gateshead.67 In 1876 aged 21 George joined Thomas in China. He married Katharine PYE in Lewisham in 1888. Katharine died in Shanghai, China in 1890. George married second Olga CONRADI in 1893 in Gateshead.68 George Trotter Brockett died 8 Apr 1896 in Upper Holloway, Middx69 aged 40. No surviving children.

Margaret kept in touch with Thomas’ children until the end. The last of the Gateshead Brocketts, she died of myocarditis, bronchitis and senility, 17 Mar 1949 at 41 Cecil Rd, N Acton, Ealing, Middx, aged 91, Spinster of independent means, daughter of William Henry Brockett, Newspaper Editor deceased, estate valued at £5321 15s 2d.72

Henry Brockett of Jamaica and London c 1807-87

Fourth and youngest son of John Gent and Frances TROTTER, Henry was born c 1807. Elected Member of the House of Assembly for Hanover Parish Jamaica, from which post he resigned in 1852.73 Married Eliza Frances ?WINCKLER in Jamaica. They had returned to England by 1861, when they were recorded in the census. Henry died 1887 Fulham London, aged 80, ie b c 1807.74 Eliza Frances died 19 Dec 1911 Kingston London, aged 77, ie b c 1834,75 Will proved London, estate valued at £21,015 1s resworn £21,337 13s 8d to [niece] Margaret Brockett spinster.76 No issue.